Eurospeak Language School

5 Tips From Experts On Preparing For IELTS Exam

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, it assesses the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. IELTS is required for entry to universities in the UK and other countries.

Over three million people take the test every year and the successful results of the test are accepted by more than 11,000 employers, universities, schools, and immigration   bodies around the world. As you can see, passing the IELTS test can open many doors for   your future employment and educational opportunities. Whether you are new to the idea  of passing IELTS or are currently studying for it, we have compiled 5 top tips from experts on how to best prepare for the exam.

  1.  This is conceivably the most important tip of them all, and it’s to take a practice test! The last thing you would want on the test day is to be surprised by the content and style of the questions. Having taken a practice test, you’ll have familiarized yourself with the content and structure of the test. Taking a practice test will give you more experience sitting these papers and what to prepare.
  2. While preparing to take IELTS, another essential aspect to be aware of is the exam time constraints. There’s nothing worse than knowing the answers but lacking the time management skills to respond to all the questions’ Having an idea of what you’re writing is excellent but not having the ability to do it in a reasonable amount of time is another problem. So, while you’re doing the practice papers, it’s advisable to keep an eye on the clock!.. This will allow you to produce work that is not only practiced but also within the time limits set by the test examiner to ensure you complete the whole test.
  1. Develop your reading skills and be able to analyze what the questions are asking of you. By developing your reading skills, you will become more familiar with how things are written in the English language.. We advise developing speed reading skills will help you to comprehend the content and locate correct responses quickly. The more you read and study, the more you will begin to improve your reading comprehension skills!      
  1.  Make sure that you use the appropriate and assertive English terms when writing. This will make your writing appear well-structured and intelligently conceived. When you want to be assertive, avoid words like; ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’, and ‘should.’ These words are not considered ‘assertive’ and only demonstrate that you are not certain of what you’re writing about. We suggest doing further research into assertive terms when writing for persuasive arguments. You may not need to use these styles of writing in your exam specifically, but it will give you an incentive to write confidently.
  1.   Finally, it is important to get as much exposure as possible to the English language. ‘Practice makes perfect and getting frequently more confidently with the English language through reading, writing, and speaking will only bring you more success in passing the IELTS exam. If you have the opportunity, speak as much as possible to those around you in English. This not only gives you speaking practice, but it also gives you a chance to possibly plan and prepare a topic through speech that you can then form into a text if it’s relevant. You will then find it easier to fully develop and explain your ideas on the day of the exam. If you have brainstormed and noted your ideas with someone you will benefit greatly from engaging in interactions with those who are native or advanced speakers of English because they can provide valuable feedback on your speaking skills which will come in handy when taking the test.

Eurospeak offers IELTS preparation classes, for more information, click here.